August 1, 2011 12:19pm EDTJune 13, 2011 9:53am EDTGiants second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who suffered a dislocated right shoulder over the weekend, will see how his shoulder responds to rehab over the next few weeks.

Staff report

Published on Jun. 13, 2011 | Updated on Aug. 1, 2011

Jun. 13, 2011

San Francisco Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who suffered a dislocated right shoulder over the weekend, will see how his shoulder responds to rehab over the next few weeks in hopes that he can return to the lineup and hold off surgery until the offseason, team trainer Dave Groeschner said Sunday night.

Not only did Sanchez dislocate the shoulder diving for a grounder up the middle Friday against the Resd, but there also was damage to the labrum and the capsule is stretched.

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Dr. Gary Waslewski, who performed surgery on Sanchez's left shoulder in December, will evaluate him this week in Arizona. If surgery is required, it would end his season.

Sanchez's injury is the latest blow to San Francisco's hopes of repeating as World Series champions.

The Giants have put 12 players on the disabled list this season. They placed 13 on the D.L. all of last season when they won the franchise's first World Series title since moving West in 1958.

Still, they lead the N.L. West and will get some relief in the lineup Tuesday, when third baseman Pablo Sandoval rejoins the team for a three-game series at the Diamondbacks.

Sandoval was sidelined for just over six weeks with a broken right wrist. His return should help boost a Giants offense that has been struggling with him out and with catcher Buster Posey lost for the year.

There was talk that the Giants may use Sandoval at catcher a few times a week but that chatter seems to have cooled down for now.

In 24 games this year, Sandoval is hitting .313 with five home runs and 14 RBIs.